The vote will set out how land is used through to 2033 across MonmouthshireJoanne Ridout Property Editor and Twm Owen, Local democracy reporter
21:27, 18 Oct 2025
A programme of new home building needs to be passed (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A pivotal vote on a plan that could see up to 2,100 new homes built in Monmouthshire is set to take place next week. The replacement local development plan outlines land use in the county until 2033, including the allocation of new employment sites.
Key sites identified in the plan include new housing, a care home and hotel at Mounton Road, Chepstow, up to 700 homes east of Caldicot and north of Portskewett, and new housing at Dixton Road, Monmouth and 500 homes east of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road at Abergavenny. The plan stipulates that half of all new housing must be affordable, with most available for social rent.
This has been hailed by the council’s Labour-led cabinet as crucial to addressing housing affordability.
According to official UK Government statistics, Monmouthshire is the priciest local authority area in Wales to buy a home, with an average price of £324,000. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The plan needs approval from a majority of the 46-member council, which could lead to a tense meeting at County Hall in Usk, as Labour runs it in coalition with the single Green Party councillor as a minority administration.
The suspension of longstanding Dewstow member Tony Easson from the Labour group could further complicate the vote. He now sits as an Independent Socialist, leaving Labour with just 20 members.
The Conservatives, who have 19 members and have consistently criticised the plan, question whether the 50% affordable housing target is achievable. There’s also a group of four independent members.
Another independent member, Usk and Llanbadoc’s Meirion Howells, often sides with the administration in close votes, alongside Green Party councillor Ian Chandler.
The plan was last scrutinised in a special session in September, following over 4,000 public responses to the council’s preferred plan published last November.
Despite numerous comments urging the council to withdraw or reconsider certain sites, the council believes the plan should proceed to independent examination, with any proposed changes or revisions left to the planning inspector.
For this to occur, the council must approve the plan at the meeting on Thursday, October 23, allowing the independent examination process to commence.
The plan must be deemed “sound” by the inspector, representing the Welsh Government, to become the council’s planning policy from next year.
Since Labour took control at County Hall in 2022, the council has been developing the plan, including several consultations.
The process had to restart after the Welsh Government stated that the version the Conservatives were working on, prior to losing control in the local elections, included too many new homes.
The substitute local development plan is designed to be the council’s planning policy, and any proposed sites will still need to secure approval through the standard planning process.